The Beauty of the Sudanese Red Sea Waters & Biodiversity Anno 2004

Precontinent 2 | Conshelf 2 by J.Y.Cousteau in Shaab Rumi

In 1963 World renowned Ocean explorer J.Y. Cousteau and the MS Calypso, would for the first time in human history, experiment living underwater for 30 days. The experiment took place in Sudan's Shaab Rumi, and footage was compiled into the Oscar winning movie "The World without Sun - Le Monde sans Soleil". The expedition left behind the underwater garage, shark cage, and a hangar.
This shallow dive spot, is definitely one of Sudan's top sites, even now. 
Personally I like to go inside the garage, where one can take his regulator out and breathe from the air pocket inside. (always circulate the air via alternate air source first)
UPDATE 2023
While some of the colour full soft corals have been replaced by less flamboyant colours; this site has always been under threat by fishing & spearfishing. Still a good congregation of fishes, but smaller coral types. Generally speaking still in very good condition compared to the video you see.

Check my latest Live Vlog, where I discuss the state of the Reefs of Sudan 2023

Shaab Rumi Sharks and Wildlife

Named after the famous Arab Poet Rumi, Shaab Rumi "Rumi Reef" was, has and still is one of my preferred spots of Port Sudan. Comparable to Elphinstone Reef in Egypt, with the difference that there is actually a lagoon inside the reef, accessible through a narrow channel. The lagoon is known for it's visiting pods of dolphins, who com rest there regularly a few days in a row usually.

These shots were taken on the Southern plateau (similar to Elphinstone, Rumi has a coral landscape plateau N and S) Famous for it's high treacherous currents, that can drag you down to depths. But oh so beautiful. And in the past one would anytime of the year have at least 20+ reef sharks on any dive on the plateau. In the depths Hammerhead schools would congregate to sometimes 40+ sharks.

UPDATE 2023
While some of the colour full soft corals have been replaced by less flamboyant colours; this site has always been under threat by fishing & spearfishing. Still a good congregation of fishes, but smaller coral types. Generally speaking still in very good condition compared to the video you see.
Since last year, all sharks and humphead wrasses have disappeared, due to poachers.

Check my latest Live Vlog, where I discuss the state of the Reefs of Sudan 2023

Shaab Rumi Sharks and Wildlife continued

Named after the famous Arab Poet Rumi, Shaab Rumi "Rumi Reef" was, has and still is one of my preferred spots of Port Sudan. Comparable to Elphinstone Reef in Egypt, with the difference that there is actually a lagoon inside the reef, accessible through a narrow channel. The lagoon is known for it's visiting pods of dolphins, who com rest there regularly a few days in a row usually.

These shots were taken on the Southern plateau (similar to Elphinstone, Rumi has a coral landscape plateau N and S) Famous for it's high treacherous currents, that can drag you down to depths. But oh so beautiful. And in the past one would anytime of the year have at least 20+ reef sharks on any dive on the plateau. In the depths Hammerhead schools would congregate to sometimes 40+ sharks.

UPDATE 2023
While some of the colour full soft corals have been replaced by less flamboyant colours; this site has always been under threat by fishing & spearfishing. Still a good congregation of fishes, but smaller coral types. Generally speaking still in very good condition compared to the video you see.
Since last year, all sharks and humphead wrasses have disappeared, due to poachers.

Check my latest Live Vlog, where I discuss the state of the Reefs of Sudan 2023

Wolrd Famous Wreck of the MV Umbria, of the coast of Port Sudan

"The Last Voyage
In May 1940, the Umbria, commanded by Captain Lorenzo Muiesan, sailed from the port of Genoa, calling in Livorno and then in Naples. There, in broad daylight, and in the words of Captain Muiesan himself, "among the nurses who walked on the quays with their strollers," he loaded in his holds 6,000 tons of bombs, 600 cases of detonators, 100 tons of weapons, 2,000 tons of construction materials and general cargo, and three Fiat 1100 sedans. The military equipment was intended for Mussolini's troops stationed in Eritrea to ensure the defence of Italian interests in the region after Italy's inevitable entry into the WWII; the civilian cargo was destined for Asia."
Read the full story here.

A great dive site as you can see from the footage.

UPDATE 2023
Due to regular yearly heatwaves resulting in coral bleaching events, combined with a currently ongoing Crown of Thorns Starfish Outbreak. Coral and subsequently fish life on the outside of the wreck have pretty much vanished.
The wreck is still an absolute highlight due to her sheer size and beautiful impressions when penetrating inside.

Sanganeb Atoll Marine Park

Sanganeb Atoll was the first marine national park to be gazetted in Sudan in 1990. The only atoll in the Red Sea, Sanganeb has one of the most unique reef structures in the whole Red Sea whose steep slopes rise from a sea floor more than 800m deep.

Sangeneb is renowned among divers as one of the best diving spots in the world. The park is known for its richness of marine life and breathtaking underwater vistas, hosting at least 300 fish species including numerous endemic and rare species of sharks, dolphins, marine turtles, and a good representation of other invertebrates such as molluscs.

UPDATE 2023
The above was true for a very long time, however Sanganeb general state has definitely deteriorated over the years. It is the hotspot for any Sea excursions from Port Sudan, which brings obviously impact to the reefs by anchoring, and trampling of shallow corals by snorkelers.
It is subjected to heatwaves on regular occasions, with high coral mortality in the shallows. While both N & S Plateau's due to their depth of 20+ Meters, were until recently still in pristine conditions. However this has changed dramatically with the expansion of the COTS (Crown of Thorns Starfish) Outbreak which is decimating the hard corals even on depth.
Due to the presence of park rangers, hammerhead sharks are still there, but again reef sharks, and humphead wrasses have disappeared.
I weep when I dive there - TheOceanRoamer

Because the Night | Night Dive in Sudan's Red Sea

Some beautiful footage of what night diving in Sanganeb reef had to offer.